Modi said the world had increasingly become inter-connected and inter-dependent, a transformation that had made it necessary for India and China to cooperate on trade and investments despite a border dispute.

“It is true that we have a border dispute with China. But in the last 40 years, not a single bullet has been fired because of border dispute,” Modi said speaking at a panel discussion at the St Petersburg International Economic Forum.

Hua said, “we have been stressing that as two major countries China and India maintaining sound, steady and in-depth growth of the bilateral relationship is of great significance.”

“Actually, leaders of the two countries pay great attention to the boundary question. Each time they meet, they exchange views on this issue. Both sides have agreed that an early question of boundary serves the interests of both the sides. It is also a strategic goal both sides are striving to achieve,” she said.

Referring to the 19 rounds of boundary talks held by the special representatives of both sides, Hua said the two countries had “taken serious measures to maintain peace and tranquillity of the border areas.”

“The two sides will stick to the overall relationship of the bilateral relationship and deepen cooperation in relevant fields to realise common development and bring more benefits to the people,” she added.

Modi’s remarks as well as China’s reaction comes in the backdrop of growing discord between the two countries over a host of issues including the $50 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, Beijing blocking India’s membership of the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) as well as the listing of JeM leader Masood Azhar a terrorist by UN.